Pop-up valve for managing backflow

Abstract

A pop-up valve or valve assembly operable to manage backflow, the assembly configured with a stem or stem portion. The assembly includes a valve sleeve disposed on the stem. The valve sleeve is configured to engage the stem. A stem outside diameter is smaller than an inside diameter of the valve sleeve, such that the sleeve is able to move freely on the stem and also provide a restricted passage for airflow.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pressurizable vessel configured with a sealable port, the pressurizable vessel comprising:
 a pop-up valve assembly proximately located near the sealable port, the pop-up valve assembly comprising:
 a valve head; 
 a valve stem coupled with the valve head, the valve stem further comprising an upper stem portion, a middle stem portion, and a bottom stem portion; 
 a valve sleeve movingly disposed around the middle stem portion; 
 an open pipe having the bottom stem portion and an at least a portion of the middle stem portion disposed therein; and 
 a valve seat disposed on an end of the open pipe. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The pressurizable vessel of  claim 1 , the vessel further comprising an air inlet conduit coupled with the open pipe, the air inlet conduit configured to support the pop-up valve assembly. 
     
     
       3. The pressurizable vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the middle stem portion has a middle stem outer diameter, wherein the valve sleeve has an inner sleeve diameter, and wherein an upper annulus is formed as a result of a difference in cross-sectional area of the middle stem outer diameter and the inner sleeve diameter. 
     
     
       4. The pressurizable vessel of  claim 3 , wherein the open pipe has an open pipe inner diameter, wherein the bottom stem portion has a bottom stem outer diameter, and wherein a lower annulus is formed a result of a difference in cross-sectional area of the open pipe inner diameter and the bottom stem outer diameter. 
     
     
       5. The pressurizable vessel of  claim 4 , wherein an annulus ratio size of the lower annulus:upper annulus is in a ratio range of 64:1 to 1.1:1. 
     
     
       6. The pressurizable vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the valve stem and the valve head are movable together between a fully retracted position and a sealing position. 
     
     
       7. The pressurizable vessel of  claim 6 , wherein in the fully retracted position, the valve seat has a contact point with a face of the valve sleeve. 
     
     
       8. The pressurizable vessel of  claim 7 , wherein the valve sleeve is movable within the open pipe whereby the face is configured to occlude an outer passageway between the open pipe and the valve sleeve. 
     
     
       9. The pressurizable vessel of  claim 8 , wherein the bottom stem portion has an enlarged shape having a larger outer diameter than a middle stem portion outer diameter. 
     
     
       10. A pressurizable vessel configured with a sealable port, the pressurizable vessel comprising:
 a pop-up valve assembly proximately located near the sealable port, the pop-up valve assembly comprising:
 a valve head; 
 a valve stem coupled with the valve head, the valve stem further comprising an upper stem portion, a middle stem portion, and a bottom stem portion; 
 a valve sleeve movingly disposed around the middle stem portion; 
 an open pipe having the bottom stem portion and an at least a portion of the middle stem portion disposed therein; and 
 a valve seat disposed on an end of the open pipe, 
 
 
       wherein the valve stem and the valve head are movable together between a fully retracted position and a sealing position. 
     
     
       11. The pressurizable vessel of  claim 10 , the vessel further comprising an air inlet conduit coupled with the open pipe, the air inlet conduit configured to support the pop-up valve assembly. 
     
     
       12. The pressurizable vessel of  claim 11 , wherein the middle stem portion has a middle stem outer diameter, wherein the valve sleeve has an inner sleeve diameter, and wherein an upper annulus is formed as a result of a difference in cross-sectional area of the middle stem outer diameter and the inner sleeve diameter. 
     
     
       13. The pressurizable vessel of  claim 12 , wherein the open pipe has an open pipe inner diameter, wherein the bottom stem portion has a bottom stem outer diameter, and wherein a lower annulus is formed a result of a difference in cross-sectional area of the open pipe inner diameter and the bottom stem outer diameter. 
     
     
       14. The pressurizable vessel of  claim 13 , wherein an annulus ratio size of the lower annulus:upper annulus is in a ratio range of 64:1 to 1.1:1. 
     
     
       15. The pressurizable vessel of  claim 14 , wherein in the fully retracted position, the valve seat has a contact point with a face of the valve sleeve. 
     
     
       16. The pressurizable vessel of  claim 15 , wherein the valve sleeve is movable within the open pipe whereby the face is configured to occlude an outer passageway between the open pipe and the valve sleeve. 
     
     
       17. A pop-up valve assembly for use in managing backflow of a pressurizable vessel, the pop-up valve assembly comprising:
 a valve head; 
 a valve stem coupled with the valve head, the valve stem further comprising an upper stem portion, a middle stem portion, and a bottom stem portion; 
 a valve sleeve movingly disposed around the middle stem portion; and 
 a valve seat, 
 wherein the valve stem and the valve head are movable together between a retracted position and a sealing position, 
 wherein in the retracted position, the valve seat has a contact point with a face of the valve sleeve, 
 wherein the middle stem portion has a middle stem outer diameter, 
 wherein the valve sleeve has an inner sleeve diameter, 
 wherein an upper annulus is formed as a result of a difference in cross-sectional area of the middle stem outer diameter and the inner sleeve diameter, and 
 wherein the bottom stem portion has a bottom stem outer diameter. 
 
     
     
       18. The pop-up valve assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the bottom stem outer diameter is larger than the middle stem portion outer diameter. 
     
     
       19. The pop-up valve assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the valve sleeve is movable in response to a flow of pressurized air. 
     
     
       20. The pop-up valve assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the valve seat further comprises a top seat end configured with a circumferential face, and wherein at least a portion of the valve sleeve engages the circumferential face in the retracted position.